Whole Foods says SEC probing CEO's message board postings

0 Comments | AFP, July, 2007

WASHINGTON (AFP) — US natural foods retail giant Whole Foods said Tuesday stock market regulators have opened a probe into its chief executive's anonymous posting on an online message board.

The Texas-based retailer said in a statement "it was contacted by the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission" on Monday.

"The SEC staff is conducting an inquiry in relation to online financial message board postings regarding Whole Foods Market and Wild Oats Markets."

The company said it "intends to fully cooperate with the SEC and does not anticipate commenting further while the inquiry is pending."

Whole Foods acknowledged last week that its chairman and CEO John Mackey had posted "a number" of messages on a Yahoo stock market forum over an eight-year...